Improvement in harness attachments



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. B'. HAND. Harness Attachment.

No. 203,823. Patented May 21,1878.

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UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THOMAS B. HAND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS ATTACHMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,823, dated May 21, 1878; application filed April 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern: g

Be it known that I, THOMAS BARTON HAND, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specification. My invention relates to an improved harness attachment for checking rlmaway horses.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive attachment for a harness, a portion of which shall be adapted to be secured to the fore-leg of a horse, and the several straps and parts so constructed an d arranged that the free movement one of the reins the attachment will notin-V terfere with the free movement of the horse, but bypulling on the other safety-rein operates to prevent the horse from carrying his leg forward, and thus brings him under immediate subjection.

My invention further consists in the several details of construction and combinations of parts, as will more fully appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents my improved attachment applied to a thorse, and secured to the harness and retained in its proper position when not desired for use. Fig. 2 represents the relative position of the several parts of the attachment when in use,

to check a runaway horse.

A represents a harness-tug provided with a depending shield or protection, B, which pref vents the leg-strap from abrading the skin of the horse. C is a metallic plate, attached to the tug A or shield B, said plate. being provided with a ring, a, and a spring-catch or strap-holder, b. Safety-strap D passes through the ring c, fastened to the hip-strap E, and is fastened at one end to a leg-strap, F, by means of a buckleor snap-hook, G, or in any other desired manner. Leg-strap F consists of a band of sufficient length to surround the leg of a horse above the knee, one end of the band having a ring or loop, d, secured thereto, and through which passes the other end of the strap. To the free end of the leg-strap is secured the snap-hook ofthe safety strap or rein.

It will be observed that when strain is eX- erted on the safety strap or rein the leg-strap is tightly bound around the leg of the horse above the knee, and hence there is no liability of its becoming displaced when desired for use. H is a cord or strap, one end of which eX- tends to the vehicle, while the other end is passed through the ring e on the hip-strap, ring a on the plate G, and is fastened to a stop or check button, I, attached to the safety rein or strap D, or in close proximity to said checkbutton. Check button or stop is preferably formed of india-rubber, though it may be composed of any material desired.

While a single leg-strap secured to the foreleg above the knee, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, will ordinarily afford sufficient security, yet a leg-strap, J, may be secured below the knee, if desired, and connected with the safety-strap by a strap, K. This will afford complete security should one of the legstraps become broken.

The operation of my improvement is as follows Under ordinary circumstances the checkbutton is retained within the spring-catch or strap-holder b, thus bringing the point of attachment of the several straps in close proximity to the fore-quarter of the horse, and in such position the free movement of the animal is in nowise hampered or impeded by'said attachment. Should the horse become frightened and attempt to run away, the driver has simply to pull on the safety-strap D, which is easily disengaged from its holder b, and thus allows of a direct pull on the fore-leg of the horse, which will have the effect of instantly checking him, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The several parts of the attachment may be readily replaced Withoutthe necessity of the driver alighting from the vehicle, as a pull on the cord or strap H operates to draw the check or stop button I attached tothe safetyrein within the spring-catch b, and by means of Which the several parts are retained in in place until further needed for use.

The attachment is adapted to be applied to any harness at slight expense, and, when employed, no danger to the life or limbs of thc driver or occupants of the vehicle need be apprehended, as the horse is at all times under the complete control of the driver.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, With a spring catch or holder secured to a harness-tug, of a safetystrap attached to a leg-strap, and a cord or strap extending through a ring located in close proximity to said spring catch or holder, and

fastened to a check-button on the safety-strap, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a safety-strap and spring catch or holder, of a guard or shield attached to the harness-tug, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the safety strap or rein, of a leg-strap consisting of a strap having a ring or loop secured to one end, through which is passed the free end of said safetystrap, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, With the metallic plate, provided With a ring and spring catch or holder, of the safety-strap and locking-cord, and of two leg-straps adapted to be secured above and below the knee of the horse, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the forgoin g I have hereunto set my hand this 16th fday of April, 1878.

THOMAS BARTON HAND.

Witnesses z W. S. WILKINSON, FREDK. FEIGE. 

